IT CHASES YOU TO DEATH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11402, 20 April 1899, Page 3

IT CHASES YOU TO DEATH.

There is only one beast that will track you dc.wn to avenge' the death of its mate, no matter how far you go, and that ib a snake.

Moreover, it is the most terrible of all snakes, and the largest of the poisonous variety. Its name is the hamadryad. A bile from this reptile will kill the strongest man in two minutes, and, of course, there is no rcueilv. No one bitten by a hamadryad has ever survived. It chiefly belongs to the Far East. There are generally two hamadryads if there is one, and if you kill one of them the other will be on your track before long in all probability. Short of taking ship across the sea, there is no way of escaping unless you watch for the snake and shoot it. It will follow you for miles for the chance of a stealthy stroke, and you may climb trees or mountains or ford rivers, but there is no way of evading the hamadryad. It is a Bort of nightmare hunt to be chased by one, and when the chase begins either one or the other will have to die within a day or so. The mate of the slain snake never makes a mistake, but- always kills the slayer of its companion, and him alone. The beast grows to a length of about 15ft sometimes, and is fairl-f common in Malay and New Guinea. Specimens have been brought to Europe, but it is no reptile to play with. One scratch from its fangs is certain and instant death.